Frame Pillow

ABSTRACT

A pillow is disclosed which keeps a user cool by providing for the free flow of air about the user&#39;s head. The pillow comprises a substantially u-shaped frame further comprising a support structure encased in a padding layer with a mesh element stretched over the frame. The support structure may have a folded over shape with two opposing bend points and two opposing horizontal members such that the frame will be resiliently flexible about the bend points.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Pillows provide support for a user's head, neck and shoulders while lying down. Pillows typically comprise an exterior fabric case filled with a soft stuffing material. Polyester stuffing and goose down are traditional materials for stuffing pillows. More recently, pillows have been constructed which utilize other more exotic filling materials such as viscoelastic foam and buckwheat. Regardless of these recent advances, users still face the problem of overheating due to the lack of airflow about the head and face when lying on a pillow.

A person may become hot while lying down from a variety of reasons including, but not limited to, external stimuli such as warm environments, internal mechanisms such as metabolic functions, or an underlying medical condition. In any case, the heat generated from a person's body often is released through the head. As a result, a head resting on a pillow is likely to become overheated because of a lack of airflow about the head. Therefore there is need for a pillow that allows for the free flow of air about the head and face of users, thereby preventing over heating and keeping them cool.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment, the invention of the present disclosure is a pillow constructed of a substantially rigid inner support structure encased in an outer padding layer. The inner support structure may be a single substantially u-shaped structure. Alternatively, the inner support structure may be a substantially rectangular a support structure folded over on itself in a roughly book-shaped fashion and overlapping on itself forming a substantially u-shaped and resiliently flexible frame. In either case, the substantially rigid support structure is encased in an outer padding layer. The outer padding layer may be constructed from any material suitable for providing a comfortable surface for a user to rest his or her head including, styrofoam, visco-elastic polyurethane foam, an external shell stuffed with a suitably soft material or other material capable of providing the required characteristics for comfortable rest. A mesh element may be stretched over the padding layer of the substantially u-shaped frame and a fabric layer may be detachably connected to the mesh layer such that the fabric layer covers the mesh layer and can be removed for cleaning. The frame may be sized such that the pillow fits inside standard pillowcases or substantially larger than standard pillowcase sizes.

In another embodiment, the invention of the present disclosure is a method of keeping a user's head cool and ventilated while resting on a pillow. The method comprises the steps of placing a pillow, further comprising a substantially u-shaped frame, encased in an outer padding layer with a mesh layer stretched over the frame in an area where a user intends to rest his or her head and allowing a user rest his or her head on the pillow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 shows the folded over embodiment of the pillow.

FIG. 2 shows various embodiments of the pillow.

FIG. 3 shows a method of use for the pillow and a bed incorporating the pillow.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of practicing the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the pillow comprising a substantially u-shaped shaped frame (10) further comprising a rectangular support structure (20), bent over (30) onto itself forming a book-shaped or tabloid structure where the support structure is encased in a padding layer (40) and a mesh layer (50) is stretched over the padded frame (10). The support structure (20) may be constructed from any suitably rigid material capable of being bent over on itself or formed into the desired shape. The inner support structure may run continuously (60) through the frame to support and maintain its overall shape. The inner support structure may comprise any material in any form that is sufficiently strong enough, to bear the weight of a person's head yet sufficiently resilient to return the frame to the shape it took after the fold. As used here, “material” refers to the composition of the inner support structure while “form” refers to the shape the material takes Those skilled in the art would recognize many suitable materials for the rigid inner support structure, including but not limited to, steel, metal, plastic and the like. Moreover, those skilled in the art would recognize many suitable forms for the inner support structure including, but not limited to, rods, pipes, tubes, and the like.

The invention contemplates using a material with resiliently flexible characteristics such that the frame will have some give when a user rests his or her head on the pillow. In this embodiment the folded over frame creates 2 opposing bend points (70) and 2 opposing horizontal members (80). While the terms “bent over” and “folded” are used, they are used used merely as illustrative words to describe the shape of the frame. There is no requirement that the frame is actually formed by bending or folding. The frame may be resiliently flexible at the bend points. A space (90) is left between the opposing horizontal members (80) allowing the top and bottom members to move (100) towards and away from each other as weight is applied and removed, respectively.

The substantially rigid inner support structure (20), is encased in an outer padding layer (40). While the inner structure provides support for and maintains the overall structure of the frame, the outer padding provides users with a degree of comfort when placing their heads on the frame. Those skilled in the art would recognize many suitable materials for the outer padding layer, including but not limited to, Styrofoam, visco-elastic polyurethane foam (memory foam), and the like.

In order to provide a place for users to rest their heads, a mesh element (50) is stretched over the substantially u-shaped frame (10). The mesh element serves to ventilate hot air away from the head and face of the user and, provide a surface to hold a user's head (200). The mesh element permits the dissipation of heat from a user's head when a user is resting his or her head on the pillow. Further, when a user places his or her head on the mesh element, the mesh may absorb the weight of the user's head such that when the weight of the head and resilience of the mesh element balance, the person's head will be comfortably cradled by the pillow. Thus, it is important for the mesh to be of sufficient strength and resiliency such that the mesh will absorb the weight of a user's head and return to its original shape. Those skilled in the art would recognize many suitable materials for the mesh element, including but not limited to, wire, plastic, nylon, and the like. Finally, the mesh element absorbs the weight of a person's head such that less pressure is exerted directly on the frame. This increases the longevity of the frame and permits the use of lighter inner support structures.

FIG. 2 shows other embodiments of the frame pillow where the substantially rigid u-shaped frame (10) is constructed from a non-folded (25) over, straight support structure, encased in a padding layer (40). The support structure and u-shaped frame may be of circular (120), rectangular (110) or other suitable cross sectional shape. Thus, rather than a square or rectangle bent and folded over, the support structure in this embodiment may be formed from a linear piece of substantially rigid material, bent in two places (115) to form a substantially u-shaped frame.

The substantially rigid inner support structure (20), is encased in an outer padding layer (40). While the inner support structure provides support for, and maintains the overall structure of the frame, the outer padding layer provides users with a degree of comfort when placing their heads on the frame. Those skilled in the art would recognize many suitable materials for the outer padding layer, including but not limited to, Styrofoam, visco-elastic polyurethane foam (memory foam), and the like.

In order to provide a place for users to rest their heads, a mesh element (50) is stretched over the substantially u-shaped frame (10). The mesh element serves to ventilate hot air away from the head and face of the user and, provide a surface to hold a user's head (200). The mesh element permits the dissipation of heat from a user's head when a user is resting his or her head on the pillow. Further, when a user places his or her head on the mesh element, the mesh may absorb the weight of the user's head such that when the weight of the head and resilience of the mesh element balance, the person's head will be comfortably cradled by the pillow. Thus, it is important for the mesh to be of sufficient strength and resiliency such that the mesh will absorb the weight of a user's head and return to its original shape. Those skilled in the art would recognize many suitable materials for the mesh element, including but not limited to, wire, plastic, nylon, and the like. Finally, the mesh element absorbs the weight of a person's head such that less pressure is exerted directly on the frame. This increases the longevity of the frame and permits the use of lighter inner support structures.

The pillow of the present disclosure may be sized to fit within a standard pillow case. It may also be desirable to have the pillow sized larger than standard pillow cases to provide a greater area for users to rest their heads. A detachably connectable fabric or textile layer (130) may be provided to fit over the mesh layer (50). In the latter alternative, the frame is lined with a fastener (140), such as Velcro, and a corresponding portion of the fabric layer is lined with a receiving element (145) of the fastener such that when the two meet they adhere and remain in place. The fabric layer can include both natural and man-made fabrics and should be sufficiently porous to complement the mesh in the ventilation of hot air. Those skilled in the art would recognize many suitable fabrics, including but not limited to, cotton, silk, and linen and the like. The easy detachment of the fabric permits users to change fabric types based on personal preference, style, color or for hygienic purposes. Moreover, the ease in which fabrics can be detached and replaced makes this option preferable in environments requiring sanitary conditions, such as hospitals.

FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of the invention as a method for keeping a user's head cool by dissipating heat away from the user's head. The method comprises the steps of providing a user (150) with a pillow (160), further comprising a substantially u-shaped frame, encased in an outer padding layer with a mesh layer stretched over the frame in an area where a user intends to rest his or her head and having a user rest his or her head on the pillow. The invention may also embody a bed (170) further comprising a mattress (180) adapted for holding the resting body (190) of a user equipped with a pillow, further comprising a substantially u-shaped frame, encased in an outer padding layer with a mesh layer stretched over the frame.

With respect to the above, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangement of the components listed or the steps set forth in the description or illustrated in the drawings. The various apparatus and methods of the disclosed invention are capable of other embodiments, and of being practiced and carried out in various ways that would be readily known to those skilled in the art, given the present disclosure. Further, the terms and phrases used herein are for descriptive purposes and should not be construed as in any way limiting.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which this disclosure is based by be utilized as a basis for designing other inventions with similar properties. It is important therefore that the embodiments, objects, and claims herein, be regarded as including such equivalent construction and methodology insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

It should be noted that the components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. Moreover, in the figures, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the different views. However, like parts do not always have like reference numerals. Moreover, all illustrations are intended to convey concepts, where relative sizes, shapes and other detailed attributes may be illustrated schematically rather than literally or precisely. 

I claim:
 1. A pillow comprising: a substantially u-shaped frame further comprising a substantially rigid inner support structure encased in a padding layer; and a mesh element stretched over the substantially u-shaped frame.
 2. The pillow of claim 1 where the substantially rigid inner support structure is further comprised of a folded-over shape further comprising 2 bend points and 2 opposing horizontal members.
 3. The pillow of claim 2 where the substantially rigid inner support frame is resiliently flexible about the 2 bend points.
 4. The pillow of claim 1 where the outer padding layer is styrofoam.
 5. The pillow of claim 1 where the outer padding layer is visco-elastic foam.
 6. The pillow of claim 1 further comprising a fabric layer adapted to fit over the mesh element.
 7. The pillow of claim 7 where the fabric layer is detachably connected to the pillow.
 8. The pillow of claim 1 where the frame is sized such that the pillow is capable of fitting within a standard sized pillow case.
 9. The pillow of claim 1 where the frame is sized such that it is larger than standard pillow cases.
 10. The pillow of claim 1 where the cross sectional shape of the frame is substantially circular.
 11. The pillow of claim 1 where the cross sectional shape of the frame is substantially rectangular.
 12. A pillow comprising: a substantially u-shaped frame further comprising a substantially rigid support structure where the substantially rigid support structure is further comprised of a folded-over shape further comprising 2 bend points and 2 opposing horizontal members such that the substantially rigid support structure is resiliently flexible about the 2 bend points, where the substantially rigid support structure is encased in a padding layer, and a mesh layer is stretched over the substantially u-shaped frame and attached to the substantially u-shaped frame.
 13. A method of keeping a user's head cool comprising the steps of: placing a pillow described in claim 1 on an area; and allowing a user place his or her head on the pillow.
 14. A bed comprising: a mattress; and the pillow of claim 1 positioned to allow a user to rest his or her head on the pillow while laying on the mattress. 